Citation

Lipscomb HJ, Schoenfisch AL, Cameron W, Kucera KL, Adams D, Silverstein BA. Am. J. Ind. Med. 2015; 58(9): 955-963.

Affiliation

Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/ajim.22455

PMID

25939759

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Musculoskeletal symptoms and disorders (MSDIs) are common reasons for visits to medical providers in the general population and they are common work-related complaints. Prior reports raise concerns as to whether declines in workers' compensation (WC) rates represent true improvement in occupational health and safety or shifting of care to other payment systems.

METHODS: By linking administrative records, we compared patterns of WC claims and private health care utilization for disorders of the upper extremity (UE) and knee among a large cohort of union carpenters over a 20-year period.

RESULTS: As WC claim rates declined, private health care utilization increased. The increase was muted somewhat but sustained when adjusting for other patterns of health care utilization.

CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest the decline of WC claim rates do not solely represent improved occupational safety in this population, but also a considerable shifting of care to their private insurance coverage over time. Am. J. Ind. Med. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Language: en